Automatic phonograph



Au'ronmrcmno Original Filed March 21., 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

:montre original med March 21, '1940 v1o sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR.

alf; a Mmm Aug. 22, 1950 c. G. JoHNsoN 2,519,579

' AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH original Filed March 21, 1940 v 1o sheets-sheet s I N VEN TOR.

fr] Johnson,

BY f/MW jff ,U70/MY Aug. 22, 1959 c. G. JoHNsoN 2,519,579

AUTOMATIQ PHoN'oGRAPH original Filed March 21, 1940 1o sheets-sheet 4 /e IL IN VEN TOR.

Larl JJmS'on,

BY fm lATTORNEY Aug-22,1950 Q. G. JOHNSQN 2,519,579

' AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH original Filed March 2 1, 1940 l l1o sheets-sheet 5 j@ 12:/ 91 1,25 xr 549115/ .es 11e 1111t 11:4` 44 11a/122 i 111 lfm/ I l [l2 -Ll-i l v ...LK \////l I/"l/ 519 g |||1||Il 5'2 v '3 /1'6 f 117 1191,20 93 11/ I l L 133 137 143145 [g .94106 IU? 041 f w'/ iig 174 727155/ IN V EN TOR.

15 46' 1536 153 7 01111 a Mmm BY 5MM ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1,950 'afJor-INSON 2,519,579`

. AUTOMATIC PI-IONOGRAPH .original Filed March 21, 1940 l 1o sheets-sheet, e

' 139 13a 9e 10;/ 952 zaa/ 133 Q06 127 y g3 s6 sv- I l Vl. H f4 57 l V. ze; I V szf @d k f1 90 J me IN V EN TOR.

[kr] Jalzm'on fm,

ATTRNEY Aus.22,19so CQGJOHNSQN l 2,519,579

' 'AUTOMATIC PHoNoGRAPH -Orginal Filed March 21, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VEN TOR.

ACarl Johnson Aug. 22,1950 c. a. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC PHONGRAPH original Filed Maron 2.1, 1946' 10 Shenets-Sheet 8 IN VEN yTOR. "az'/ 6;' Johnson, BY f ATTURNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1950 Carl G. Jo' nen, .o

iti n @fini cago, Ill., assigner to J 1' elinrg Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corpora- Original alvziplieation March 21, 1940, Serial No. 13253111. Dividedand this application June 15,

19f14,Sei:ialNo:540,.395

This ,artlleatlorl a ,dineren-,al .from my e0- retailingfapolleatlor1erNo- .flllllalesl .ll/.larell 2 1," '19.49, `wlrloli .issued Jarre. 2.0J Vlliftfl, .Patent l'lllrs .rvontlon relate.s to 4a.atorrratit ahorro: graphe arrdlras' fororre of Vits oilolette tlloro: Ylalorl ef olmple alle eleetire @eilte whereby plurality -of .reeoras maybeplayed .lll Seatlerlee automatloally 7 'tirent' laterverltlor.l :by l the 0P- erator after the reoortls' are ,loaoled er1 the .Irlachine. v Y Y .Affllrtllerobieet .of the interrtorriato `pravllole arlimproyerl reoordrelrarrairra end .ttlarer arm ao: tuatingInec lr1a ,1r1is 1r1. f A

t .flfrlrtller olor'eot of .ttreirlverrttonts torrente art improved 4.reeortel-@han eine ,t Wil l1 .the Various.reeordzelrarlairrgarrtl player afmattlratirre olevloesare actuated Wltllollt the aid, el. a eltltoh- .A .farther obieet of the .iarzerrtlerr atorroviflea eirrrpllled.reoorelreharrgirrg device which earl lee readily andaimely .adjusted .to play .reoerdaotlllflerorrtslaes. t l @ther objects. advantages .and capabilities .of the Yerrtlorr wlllaDneartrom thelallowing-` de- ,len Yof .a Preterreol `errrloof lirrlaot thereof, ta., l1 .lll -eorllurlotiorl ,with the .aeoornoanyirrg ataweairltwhiehr :F a-l Plan view of tllelyplrorrograph, .with its parte arranged,forttloerlayirle of a 10 record; 1. f

lr-.Fiat lea V S.lr.r1l., rlew .Showing the nllarreeraplr lll' lldltiQn-.forplayirla al.2"` reeord; fFia. Slis a sectional v detail View, taken yorrthe line .3-.3 of I.Fie-al.allowing. 5t relatlQn ottertalri'.. parlawllerl .in 4.theeaoelltien illustrated; .in

a Fig. `1;

...Fieflis a Similar newallowirrgttho relation effftllerlarts whenlntlre eorrditan, illustrated in Fig.2; l y f A y t :.Fiel is a nlarrviewalmilar toliellshowine the elatlonof the parts, or the-pherroeraiph when a reoordlis laerreldropped .onto -tlre ,..turrlr table: l :y

{.Eig.. .Gis .a sr'rrrlar.View.sharingl .the relatlerl of the :nartsxoffthe phonoeraphwlren a ,12" reeord sbene droppedont the.ttrrrrtal21e;

Eig. '7, is.. aA View; Qf .=.tlre;.me.hanlsm at.viertel from thelurrderside, the elements. lloelrra :abona inrttlie Aioositioii:they...oeouioy.,drrrin fthe; pla .ne ofa.1.0'15;reeorrl; f o

Fig. 8 is fa similar View, showing the relation gftthepartsswlren all, orl is. .beirredropped on urrrtable; f n filig- Qersa fragmentary aimllaretomlligs- .Carra ll-a 7 andL 8f allowing tlle relation ef .certain Delfts,

Wlielia .12"re`eord is being Plated:

Fig `1Q is 'a fragmentary setional view taken on theline' I'0`-|`0 f Fig. 7,' illustrating means for )applying Y.a `braking force to the tone ari-ri, Ineansfor rotating the tone arm beyond initial playing position and ineans `Wl'iereby ther tone ar l is enabledv to V4start the record-dropping orale Eig 1l is a wf ragmentary sectional View taken Qnthe line I I-l l ei Fig. 7, showing the -relation of [eertain ,parteloelow' the tettom' of erle of the posts;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary section taken on the line lg-lg of Fing. 1, illustrating the tone arr'n arlol 4rtree,hanlalrr for aotatlrla the Same; i3 is a Ysimilar yiew, the elements being shown'in position to elevate the tone 'arm` away from the records on the turntable;

Eig. la is a sectional detail of the tone arm, 'as Viewed Qnwthe line ylitlt of Fig. Il2;

ligl is la fragmentary sectional elevation taken Qntlive line l 5- 5 qf Fig.V 'Tand snowing kthe 'struc--A ture of one of the posts and associated mecha- 1.11am: e l

yFie-.16 is a `fragrrrorrtary seetlonal .View taken Qrlthe lille lil-t6 of Fig. '7, showing a combined. swith and manual button for initiatingthe dropping of another record when desired;

'Figi .1'.7 svafagmeiftlfyfpln YQW, Showing Qn@ ef-tllelaasta irl record-unloading position, part of the neet berrelorokerrawayto Show internal structure in section:

I .ig. 4llis afragmentary detail showing the relation of eertaltl `Parts of one of tlroleoatspwtlerl the Same thetlmloaolirrg position shown lll 41.7.-:v a a l Fig` i9 is a fragmentary sectional View taken orlitlier'rreeular line l @-'l' of Figa 7, Showing the relation of the vturntable and elements of the nlilgg2. .is `an elevatorlalvlew elrawlrra erle ef therroats irl. elet/ation afrol illustrating *themanner-in Wtllolfr alle `othe. upper moord-.Supporting members end ers'tlie `stack of reccnjds immediately above the lowermost record; a Fig- 23.- vis ya fragmentary tlarr View taten on thellrr. 3-23 ofrrletplarls illustrating the trip meollarrsms: l r f adatte Figs. 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 7, showing successive stages of the record-changing mechanism during the record-changing cycle;

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 29-29 of'Fig. '1, showing the tone arm latch mechanism;

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary plan View of the combined switch and cancelling member, the View being taken on the line I3l---3ll of Fig. 16; and

Fig. 3l is an inverted sectional plan view of said member taken on the line 3 l -31 of Fig. 16

Referring to the drawings, the phonograph is of the type which comprises a plurality of posts designated generally by the reference numeral 46, which are provided with means for supporting a plurality of records above a turntable 4l. In the specific embodiment illustrated, two such posts are shown. During the record-changing cycle the posts 4e are oscillated, and these posts being provided with escapement devices enable the lowermost record to fall onto the turntable, the remaining records being held supported on the posts.

The turntable 4| is provided with a spindle 42 which extends upwardly a considerable distance so as Yto extend through the central openings in the records supported on the posts 40. The spindle 42 is driven by a motor 43 which is mounted on the underside of the motor board 44, the turntable 4l being mounted on the spindle 42 above the motor board in the usual manner.

Each post 4e comprises a pedestal 45 which is rigidly mounted on the motor board 44. A ver tical shaft 45 is rotatably mounted on the pedestalthis shaft having a radial pin 41 which is adapted to rest on a washer 48 on the upper end of the pedestal 45. A supporting head 49 is supported on the upper end of the shaft 45. This supporting head comprises a sleeve 50 which receives the upper` end of the shaft 45. The lower end of the sleeve 5D is provided with two notches 5I and 52 and also -with a recess 53, which are adapted to cooperate with the pin 41.

The supporting head 49 is adapted for limited vertical movement with respect to the shaft 46. For this purpose the sleeve 55 is provided With a set screw 54 which extends into a circumferentia'l groove 55 provided in the shaft 46. It will readily be seen with reference to Fig. that if the supporting head 49 is raised, its lower end will clear the pin 41 so as to enable this pin to be located in either of the notches 5l or 52 orto enable it to receive the recess 53 in the manner shown in Fig. 18. It may here be explained that when the notches 5| receive the pins 41 the posts are adapted to operate with 12" records, the relation between the pin 41 and the notch 5| being shown in Fig. 4. When this relation obtains, the supporting heads are in the location shown in Fig. 2 during the playing of a 12" record and they are in the position shown in Fig. 6 when a 12" record is being dropped onto the turntable.

When the pins 41 are located in the notches 52, as shown in Fig. 3, the supporting heads are arranged to operate with 10 records. When this relation obtains, the supporting heads are in the position shown in Fig. 1 during the playing of a 10" record and in the position shown in Fig'. 5 when a 10" record is being'dropped onto the turntable.

When the recesses 53 are in engagement with the pins 41 as shown in Fig. 18, the supporting heads are located in the record-unloading posi- 4 tion as shown in Fig. 11. It will readily be understood that the supporting heads may be adjusted to any of these three positions by merely raising them and rotating them so as to bring the particular notches or recesses 5l, 52 or 53 into cooperative relation with the pins 41.

Suitable indicia are provided on the supporting heads to indicate the position of adjustment r wardly when the heads are adjusted for playing 10" records, the heads being in normal or recordreproducing position. When the heads are in normal playing position for 12" records, as shown in Fig. 2, arrows 51 (best shown in Figs. l and 1'7) are directed radially inwardly, These arrows, together` with the numbers l2, are stamped or otherwise formed on the supporting heads. Y

The Ysupporting head may suitably comprise a major portion 58 of substantially quadrant shape. This quadrant portion-serves as .a normal support for 12 records, as is shown in Fig. 2. Above this quadrantv portion the supporting head is provided with a boss 59 which is conformed to serve as a seat for a blade 60. The blade 60 is provided with an opening 6I which receives a small pin 62 eccentrically located on the boss 59. It .also is provided with an opening 63 in alignment with the axis of the shaft 46.

The opening 63 receives a small boss 64 which is a small upwardly projecting portion of the boss 59. Through this small boss extends a screw S5 which secures upon the boss 59 a knob G6 which has a small central boss adapted to bear upon the small boss 64, so as to define the location of the knob 66 with respect to height. The knob 6G is provided with a recess which receives the pin 62. The relation between the knob and the boss is such that the blade 50 is provided with a certain predetermined degree of freedom of movement in the vertical direction. The blade is located above the effective portion of the quadrant 58 by an amount which is substantially equal to the thickness of a 12 record. In case of any variation in thickness of the records employed, the blade 60, owing to its limited freedom -of movement, is enabled to enter between the lowermost record of the stack supported by the quadrant portion 58.

In initial position, the stack of records is supported by the quadrants 58, as shown in Fig. 2. When the supporting heads are rotated in counter-'clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, the quadrants 58 are withdrawn from the records. Before this withdrawal occurs the blades 6E! have entered into the stack of records between the lowermost record and the record immediately above it, as shown in Fig. 6. Consequently, the lowermost record falls down Valong the spindle 42 onto the turntable and the remaining records are supported by the'twoV blades 50. When the .supporting heads are rotated in clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and' 6 back to their position shown in Fig. 2, the quadrantvportions 58 movebelow the elevated records and thereafter the blades 60 are Withdrawn from the supported records. Consequently these supported records move downwardly one space and rest upon the quadrant portions 58 in the manner shown in Fig. `2.

The quadrant portion 58 of the supporting head is provided with a projecting ange 61 which is preferably-locatedv substantially below flange |29 whichY is adapted to engage the upturned end 96 of the arm 95 in the manner shown in Fig. 21. The flange |29 is provided with an opening |30 through which extends a portion of a spring |05..mounted.on the underside of the plate |02. This spring is relatively weak so that when the tone arm return assembly 91 is moved in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 20, to move the tone arm to initial playing position, the upturned end 9B is engaged by the flange |29,.the spring being forced inwardly from its position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 20 into its full line position in that figure. compression of the spring |05 results from the fact Athat during the movement of the tone arm to initial playing position a braking effect is applied to the member 92.

As will hereinafter be described, when the tone arm is returned to initial playing position, the

braking effect is withdrawn and the spring |05.

is then free to move the tone arm inwardly with a slight pressure so as to move the needle into the rst groove of the record. It will readily be understood that owing to the adjustable mounting of the plate |02 upon the arm 98, the return of the tone arm to initial playing position may be accurately adjusted.

Means are provided to cooperate with the arm 94 to move the tone arm outwardly clear of the records so that a record may drop from the elevated stack onto the turntable or onto records on the turntable. For this purpose is provided a bar |06, one end of which is pivotally mounted on the member 12, the other end being guided for slidable movement in a bracket |01 mounted on the underside of the motor board 44.

As best seen in Fig. 10, the bar |06 is located below the level of the arm 94 and it carries an upstanding pin |08 which is adapted to engage the arm 94 to swing the tone arm outwardly. The pin |08 is normally located a substantial distance away from the arm 94, as best seen in Figs. 7 and 9. Consequently, when the bar |06 begins to move from its position in Fig. 7 into its position in Fig. 8 as a result of the actuation of the member l2, the arm 94 is not operated until the latter part of this movement. As will hereinafter appear, during the initial part of this movement the tone arm is elevated so that the outward movement resulting from the cooperation of the pin |08 with the arm 94 swings the toneV arm when it is elevated away 'from the record.l

When records are to be unloaded from the turntable and mounted on the posts 40 for sequential playing, it is desirable that the tone a'rm shall be latched in an outward position clear of the records. For this purpose I pivotally mount upon the bracket |97 a latch |09 (Fig. 29) which is provided with a detent ||0 which is adapted to engage the arm 9|! when the tone arm is swung outwardly into its extreme position by hand. When the tone arm is swung into its eXtreme outward positionby the pin |08, the latch |09 is held elevated by the engagement of an overhanging lateral projection on the latch |09 by the pin |08. Consequently, the latch |09 is onlyeffective when the tone arm is moved outwardly manually.

It will be noted that when the pin |08 moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 29, during the automatic operation ofthe machine, Athe spring 99 acting upon the arm 98 causes the member 92 andits arm 94 to rotate in the counter-clockwisedirectionv as viewed,inpFig. 7. Y Then, when ThisV 8 the pin |08 moves tc the rightV as viewed in Fig. 29, the arm 94 follows it into a position clear of operative engagement with the detent ||0, the pin |08 holding the latch |09 elevated until the-advancing edge of the arm 94 passes beneath the detent |0. As will hereinafter appear, when the tone arm is moved outwardly by hand to its extreme position and is latched out in the position, the pin |08, when the machine is put into operation, eiects the unlatching of the tone arm.

' The arm 93 of the member 92 controls the unlatching of the mechanism whereby the lowermost record of the stack is dropped onto the turntable and whereby the necessary movements of the tone arm are effected. This mechanism includes a member ||2 which will hereinafter be fullyV described. For the present purpose it is pointed out that during the playing of records the member v||2 is in the position in which it is shown in Figs. 7, 23 and 24. The member ||2 is held in this position by the engagement of a projection ll3'on a trip leverl ||4 with a stop or detent |5 on the member |2.

The member ||2 is biased towards its position in Fig. 27 by means of a spring H6. The trip leverv ||4 is biased in the counter-clockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 7, by means of a spring ||1 so that its projection ||3 tends to move towards the periphery of the member |I2. The trip lever ||4 is provided with a pin ||8 which projects into the path of a contact member ||9 adjustably mounted on the arm 93. As the tone arm moves inwardly of the record during the playing, the arm 93 and the contact member ||9 move continuously towards the pin ||8 and eventually, when the tone arm reaches a definite inward position on the record, the contact member ||9 engages the pin H8 and swings the latch member ||4 in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '7, so as to unlatch the member l l2 and permit it to move in the counter-clockwise direction to some extent under the influence of the spring IIS.

On its upper side (Fig. 23) the arm 93 has pivotally mounted thereon a dog |20 which is biased to normal position by means of a spring |2 When the arm 93 moves in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 23, the point of the dog |20 slips along the serrated edge of a member |22 carried by the trip lever H4. In the event of reverse movement, that is, counter-clockwise movement of the arm 93, the point of the dog being held by engagement with the serrated edge of the member |22 forcibly moves the trip lever I4 in counter-clockwise direction and the member ||2 is unlatched. Consequently, the trip will operate when the tone arm is moved into a denite position on the record and it will operate when the needle runs into an inner eccentric groove of the type provided in certain records. The trip lever` i4 may also be moved to unlatch the member ||2 by manual means. For this purpose a rod |23 is connected to the lever ||4 as shown in Fig. '7, and when this lever is moved longitudinally downwardly and to the left as viewed in this ligure, the trip lever will be rotated to unlatch the member H2. The rod |23 is connected to a combined switch and cancelling assembly |24, which will hereinafter be described in detail.

The means whereby the tone arm is elevated away from the records will now be described.

A pin |25 is slidably mounted within the tubular member 88. The lower end of this pin rests up'onV thenormally horizontal arm |26 of a bellanatre crank lever I 21 which pivota'llyv mounted on aV bracket |26 (Fig. 121) by a pin |3t (Figs. 10 and 12J; t The bell crank lever 21: comprises a: down-r wardly extending arm |32 to which one end of' af bar I-33'ispivotally connectedt Theo-ther end of thebar |33 carries a. camroller |34 which is adapted to engage arcam1 surfacel |35 on the member '|2.,Y

. Adjacent the cam roller |34. the bar |33 isprovided. with a slot |36 through which extends the shaftL 46. orti-1e control post with which. the member 'l2 is. associated.. rIhis end of the bar is sup-- ported by means` of a collar |321 (Fig. 11.)- mount-A ed on this. shaft 45.. The bar |33 is biased towards the right, asf-viewed.` Figs'y 7,.l 8 and 12,. and the cam. roller |34 is biased towards thecam |35. .by means of a spring. |38 which extends from the lower end off the arm |32 of the bell crank lever. |21 to a suitable` position on the motor bofarclftL4 t Wheri" the machine is. playing a.l record the cam roller |34 is located at a low point |39 of the .cam surface |35 and the. spring |`3`8 holds the arm A|26 in its.` lowest position asis. shown Fig. 1.2.j In this relation of. the parts the pin I 25 is belowthe contact member |410 which. is. adj ustably mountedl on the bracket 84 of the tone arm V80. Consequently' the tone arm is free to` move to. a low position with Vits needle engaging the record on theturntable 4 I. When the member 'I2 moves in the clockwise directionv as viewed in. Fig. 7. the roller |34 ridesy up upon a rise 4| on the .camsu'rface |35, moving. the bar |33 to the leftas viewed in Fig.` 7, and elevating the arm |26 of the. bell crank lever 21 from its po. sition in. Fig. 12 t'o its position` in Fig.. 13.V As

AaresultL `of the upward V`movement of the arm surface |35 so that' the' bar .|33 remains sta-v tionary and the tone arm remains elevated while the pin |08 is throwing the tone arm out laterally clear' of the records. The relation of these elements' at that time is shown in. Fig'. 8. VWhen the member 12' begins to return from its position shown in Fig. 8 into its position shown in Fig. '7, thecam roller' |34, riding over the cam dwell |42, the tone arm remains elevated. As the bar |06 carries the pin |08 away from the arm 94,. thespring 919 moves. the member `92 in the countereclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8`, until the arm 9T engages .the abutment |00 or the abutment 10, depending upon whether or not'the posts are set for 10v or 12" records. After the movement of the arm 91 has been thus arrested. the cam roller |34 moves d-own the cam rise |'4-I and the tone arm is permitted to descend onto the record in initial playing position.`

`has been previously indicated, means areA provided for applying a braking effect upon the tone arm assembly when the tone arm is elevated. This braking means may suitably comprise a friction member |43` which may loe. of rubber. or .suitable fibrous or friction material. The friction .member |43 isxpreierably resiliently mounted'lon the Y arm |26. For example, asV

l shown4 in Fig.. 12,. it may' be. mounted on. arliat spring |44 which is anchored to thel bell crank. lever |21 adjacent its lpivot. y

The leaf spring |44 may suitably be connected by a4 detent portion |45y to the arm |264 so that. the. friction member |43 is positively withdrawn.. out of contact with the member 92. When the arm |26- ist elevated,` as shown in Fig. 13, the leaff spring. |44 is free of the arm |26 so that. it ap.` plies a Aresilient pressure upon the. member '92 when the tone.l arm israised. Consequentlyi. when the. tone arm is swung out-laterally clear ofi the. records and when it isy returned to initial playing posi-tionythisf kbrake* maintains the tone arm in the position into which it is swung without any tendency to move. away from that position.A It willy be understood that when the arrn |26 is lowered into the position in which it1 isI shown in Fig. 1.2,; and. the. friction member: |43: is withdrawn from the member 02, the: weak spring mounted on the member |02 is able to move from its full line position in Fig. into its-dotted line position in that ligure, thus. moving the tone arm` gently towards the first groove of. the: record.

The combined. switch and cancelling assembly [2.4L comprises a bracket |46A tFig. 16) mounted on. the. underside of the motor board 44. This bracket may suitably be of stirrupformation. The` horizontal lower portion of the bracket. is provided with two slots |41 whichreceive and guide. the upwardly directed arms-roi. a lll-shaped'.-

member |48.. This; U.shaped member is rigidly secured to a switch unit |49. which comprises a spindle |504 which projects upwardly through openings iin the bracket |46 and in the motor board 44'.Y -Its upper end carries a button ||5| Awhereby the. switch maybe turned on and off 44.- It will thus be seen that the switch |49 may the button |'5l inwardlybe turned on and oit by slight turning movements of the button |5| and that the switch assembly, including. the spindle |50, may be moved downwardly to a limited extent by merely pressing;

` |46- The end` portion |51, to which is connected the rod |23 previously referred to, has a relatively 'close nt within its slot |50. The other end member |50 has a considerable degree of freedom within its slot, but is normally held to one. side thereof, as shown in Fig. 30, by means of a, spring |60.

Between the terminal portions |56 and |51 the cam member comprises a generallyde` pressed intermediate portion which includes an.

inclined 'cam portion |6| adjacent the terminal portion |56 and a main horizontal body portion |62 which is connected to the cam portion I6| and to a generally vertical portion |63 which is contiguous to the terminalportion |51, 'I he inclined cam portion 6| is normally incontact with the collar |54 on the spindle |56.V Consequently, when the button is depressed, the collar |54 causes movement of the cam member |55 to the left as viewed in Fig. 16, and consequently the rod |23 is pulled to the left as viewed in this gure, and pulled downardly and to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 8. Thus, the downward movement of the button |5| unlatches the member H2.

In the horizontal portion |62 and in the adjacent portion of the inclined cam portion |6| the cam member' |55 is provided with an opening |64 (Fig. 30) Vthrough which freely extends theY spindle |56. A pin |65 (Fig. 16) projects downwardly from the collar |56 into the opening |64. The camV member |55 `is prt)- vided with a detent |66 which projects into kthe opening |64 as shown in Fig. 30. vWhen the switch button |5| is at the o1 position, the pin |65 is in its Vdotted line position in Fig. V30. When the button 5| vis turned to the on`position, the pin |65 engages the detent |66V and moves the cam member |55 to the left as viewed in Fig, 30. Thus, the rod |23 is moved to the left, as viewed inv Fig. 16, each Vtime the switch is turned on. This movement, as previously explained, results in the funlatching of the member H2. When the switch button l5! is again rotated to the off position, it passes the detent |66 freely owing to the freedom of movementof the terminal portion V|56 in its slot |56. When the pin |65 has returned to its dotted line position in Fig. 30, the spring |66 moves the cam member |55 so as to interpose the detent |66 between the two positions of the pin |65. Y

The record-changing mechanism is driven from the motor A3 through a pinion |61 on the turntable spindle 42, which Ypinion meshes with a large gear |66 rotatably mounted on the underside of the motor board 44, The gear |68 carries an upwardly' directed pin |69 and a downwardly directed pin |19. The actuating Ymember ||2 previously referred to is also pivotally mounted on the Vunderside of the motor board, 44.

The member ||2 carries a downwardly Vdisplaced nose portion |1| (Fig. 19) which is located on a level to enable it to cooperate with the upwardly extending pin |69. When the member ||2 is in its latched position, as shown in Fig.Y '1, its

nose portion 1| is located out of the path ofA the pin |66. When, however. the latch lever H4 isV actuated in any of the three ways previously described, the member ||2 is swung by the spring H6, from its position in Fig. 24 intoits position in Fig. so that the nose portion |1| is engaged by the pin 69, Yas shown in Fig. 25, and the member I I2 is swung by the pin |69 into its position in Fig, ,26. Whenthe pin |69 clears the nose portion 1| the member l2 is swung by CS spring ||6 from its position in Fig. 26 into its position in Fig.Y 2'1.

The actuating member |.I2 carries a roller |12 which is adapted to cooperate with an abutment member |13 which projects laterally from the bar 16. During the playing of a record the roller |12 and the abutmentV member |13 are in their positions shown in Fig. 24. When the actuating member |2 is swung progressively through its positions in Figs. 25 and 26, the roller |12 engages the abut- 2liA ment memberv |13 and the bar 16 is moved longitudinally from its normal position of Fig. '7 into its position in Fig. 8. Consequently, the members 1| and 12 are moved in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 8, and the supporting heads 49 are moved in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, with the result that these heads are rotated from their positions in Figs. 1 and 2 into their positions of Figs. 5 and 6, respectively. Thus, the lowermost record of the elevated stack is dropped when the bar 16 approaches the end of its movement towards the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8.

Before the record is dropped, the rotation of the member 12 from its position in Fig. 7 into its position in Fig. 8 causes the elevation of the tone arm in the manner previously described by actuation of the bar |33 and the displacement of the tone arm clear of the records by the displacement of the bar |66 and the pin |08 carried thereby. Only after' the tone arm is elevated and displaced outwardly clear of the records does the lowermost record of the elevated stack fall onto the turntable. It is to be noted that. after the record is dropped, the elevated stack is left supported upon the blades 69 or the blades 66, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, respectively,

After the pin |69 clears the nose portion |1| of the latch member I|2, as shown in Fig. 26, the pin |16 moves into engagement with an abutment |14 which projects laterally from the bar 16.' Consequently, the bar 16 is moved longitudinally so as to return the members 1| and 12 from their positions of Fig. 8 into their positions of Fig. 7. Consecutive positions' of the pin |16 and the abutment |14 are shown in Figs. 26, 27,28 and '7. .'I'his movement of the bar 10 causes the sup-I portingheads to return from their' positions in Figs. 5 and 6 to their positions in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, and it effects the consecutive withdrawal of the bar |66 to-permit the tone arm to move to initial playing position, and the movement of the bar |33 to the right as viewed in Fig.

7, to permit the tone arm to drop into engagement with the record in the m-aner previously described. It has been noted that during the initial part of this return movement the cam roller |31i rides upon a cam rest |42 and that thereafter it rides v, dOWn a cam fall |4|. 50'

position, I prefer to provide a tooth |15 on the bar 16 so as to provide a slot |15 between it and the abutment |14 within which slot the pin |16 is located, as shown in Fig. 27, during the major part of its actuating relation to the bar 16. When the bar 1D approaches its position shown in Fig. 7, the pin |16 moves out of the slot |16 and the unrestricted movement of the bar 10 enables theprojection |14 to move completely away from the path of the pin |16.

The member ||2 has pivotally mounted thereon a dog |11 which is biased by a spring |18 into j engagement with a pin |19 mounted on the mem- 65 ber ||2. The dog |11 is provided with a downwardly directed flange |96 which is adapted to cooperate with an upturned projection |8| carried on the outer end of the abutment member |13. When the bar 16 is moved by the roller |12 on the 'member ||2 through its positions shown in Figs. 24, 25, 26 and 27, the abutment |8| moving with the bar 19 moves the dog |11 away from its `pin |19 and nally moves past the Vdog 11. When the bar 16 is moved upwardly and to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2'?, the abutment |8| enga-ges the ange |80 of the dog I'I'I as shown in Figs. 27 and 28, and forces this dog against the pin |79 so that the member I I 2 is moved in clock- Wise direction as viewed in Figs. 27 and 28, thus enabling the latch lever |I4 to engage and hold the member I I2 in its latched position shown in Fig. 7.

The operation is as follows:

The tone arm 80 is moved outwardly by hand clear of the records which may be on the turntable or on the supporting heads 49. This arm is latched in that position by engagement of the arm 94 by the latch |99 as previously described. Any records on the supporting heads are removed and these supporting heads are then rotated so as to bring their recesses 53 into cooperative relation with the pins 4l. When this is done the supporting heads are in the position shown in Fig. 17, and any records on the turntable may be removed. The supporting heads are then adjusted for the playing of 10" or 12 records in the manner previously described, and records of corresponding dimension are then applied upon the upper end of the spindle 42 so that their peripheral portions rest upon the supporting heads.

The movement of the supporting heads to the 12" position locates the bar II in its position of Fig. 9, so that it is adapted to cooperate with the abutment I9! of the arm 98. Movement of the supporting heads to the l position locates the abutment 'I9 of the bar 11 clear of the abutment I 0| and enables the arm 98 to cooperate with the abutment 00. The switch button |5| is then r0- tated from its off position to its on position, which starts the motor and simultaneously moves the lever ||4 away from the member ||2 so that the nose portion I'II of this member is moved into the path of the pin |69. The pin |69 then actuates the member I I2 in the manner previously described so that the supporting heads are swung into their position of Fig. 5 or Fig. 6, depending upon whether the heads were set for 1 0 or 12" records, respectively. The lowermost record of the elevated stack then drops onto the turntable and the pin actuates the bar 10 so as to return the record-changing elements to initial position.

During the initial part of the return movement of the bar |05, the pin |08 maintains the latch |09 elevated so that during this return movement the arm 98 is moved by the spring 99 until it is brought into engagement with the abutment 'I0 or the abutment |00, as the case may be, thus returning the tone arm to initial playing position. After this return, the continued movement of the bar |33 causes the tone arm to descend to the record. Y

After the tone arm has moved downwardly to bring its needle into contact with the record on the turntable, the brake element |43 is withdrawn from the member 92 and the spring |05 is enabled to move the tone arm assembly gently so as to bring the needle into the first track groove of the record. During the return movement of the bar 10, the member I I2 is latched out in the manner previously described and the record on the turntable is played until the latch lever II4 is again released by engagement of the abutment |I9 with the pin I|8 or by actuation of the serrated member |22 by the dog |20 in the manner pre- Viously described. When this unlatching occurs, the record-changing cycle is repeated and the next record is played. This operation continues indefinitely until the motor is stopped.

If it is desired to terminate the playing of a record before its completion, it is merely necessary to depress the button I5I, which trips the lever I I4 and initiates the record-changing cycle.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specic details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In an automatic phonograph having a turntable and record changing mechanism adapted to supply records seriatim to said turntable, in combination, a player arm arranged to cooperate with records on the turntable, said player arm being free for manual translational movement laterally outwardly to a position clear of the records on the turntable, a latch adapted to hold said player arm in said position, and automatic means for moving said player arm into said position comprising means for rendering said latch ineiective.

2. In an automatic phonograph having a turntable and record changing mechanism adapted to supply records seriatim to said turntable, in combination, a player arm arranged to cooperate with records on the turntable, a member connected to the player arm tc move therewith during transla tional movement of the player arm, said player arm being free for manual translational movement laterally outwardly to a position clear of the records on the turntable, a latch adapted to engage said member to hold said player arm in said position, an automatically actuated member adapted to engage first said member to move the player arm into said position, and means on said automatically actuated member for rendering said latch inoperative when said automatically actuated member is in engagement with the rst said member.

3. In an automatic phonograph having a turntable, a player arm arranged to cooperate with records on the turntable, and automatic means to move the player arm laterally outwardly to a position clear of the records on the turntable, to supply records seriatim to said turntable and to control the return of the player arm to initial playing position, in combination, a latch normally biassed to latching position and adapted to latch said player arm in said position when manually moved to said position, and means associated with said automatic means for releasing said latch.

CARL G. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,349,705 Woodward Aug. 17, 1920 1,841,593 Benjamin Jan. 19, 1932 2,191,214 Lannerd Feb. 20, 1940 2,271,001 Fortune Jan. 27, 1942 2,298,447 Wright Oct. 13, 1942 2,333,414 De Tar Nov. 2, 1943 2,412,441 Carson et al Dec. 10, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 352,980 Great Britain July 13, 1931 406,354 Great Britain Feb. 26. 1934 

